2004 Ford Freestar Powertrain (other) Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the torque converter and the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11672730

Incident

Jun 26, 2025

Mileage

104,000 mi

Flashing! With gear around it and car will not operate correctly i.e. no power very slow acceleration and lacking ability to change gears.

NHTSA ID

11671789

Incident

Jul 2, 2025

I have a 2004 Ford freestar van and I was driving down the road and I went to pass another vehicle and I push the gas and I heard some crunchy noise is and then nothing no power at all no gears nothing I was dead in the water so I had to get out of the van and push it to the side of the road didn't have reverse didn't have drive didn't have third second or first no gears at all the transmission failed me I could have been in a very bad accident and hurt it just came out of nowhere there was no signs of anything wrong with the van and then this happens.

NHTSA ID

11611067

Incident

Aug 25, 2024

My son was driving down Rt 81 when the transmission stopped working Your vehicle was running fine but would not go had to drift off the highway she avoid getting hit I had to tow the van home we’re it’s still parked

NHTSA ID

11578163

Incident

Mar 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle would not properly accelerate and would hesitate to accelerate and the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission torque converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted and informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V006000(Power Train). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11548039

Incident

May 1, 2023

Mileage

250,000 mi

The transmission is grinding and popping when shifting gears.Also it has started not moving when I shift it into drive and 3rd and 1st.When I drive it I have to put it in 1st gear and change up to drive and it grinds and pops when giving it gas to go.It comes to a crawl going up hills.Has a big loss of power.The trackshion control light comes on saying it's not working.The electrical is messing up the doors are opening up when they are not supposed to going down road.It tells me that different doors are open when there not keeping the lights on in the van running down the battery.

NHTSA ID

11502520

Incident

Sep 9, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Freestar. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator and the vehicle continued to slow as the RPM was rising. The contact did not notice any warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled safely off the road and turned the vehicle off. The vehicle was restarted however, failed to shift into higher gears while attempting to reach highway speeds. The contact drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and found NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V006000 (Power Train) which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000.

NHTSA ID

11459751

Incident

Feb 5, 2022

Mileage

158,000 mi

Transmission slip , leaks , loosing ofpower, shakes from 45 mph to 55 mph , mechanic shop says it is the Torque Converter that is malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11454728

Incident

Feb 15, 2022

the van has less than 49k miles on it and the reverse has not worked but it will drive forward. Others have had this issue as well.

NHTSA ID

11441788

Incident

May 13, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED ALL AMERICAN FORD OF HACKENSACK (520 RIVER ST, HACKENSACK, NJ 07601) WHERE HE WAS GIVEN A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11405377

Incident

Mar 26, 2021

Mileage

100,000 mi

PCM HAS ISSUES DO TO MOISTURE WHICH AFFECTS ELECTRICAL SLIPPING GEARS ABS SENSOR PROBLEM POWER STEERING ISSUES AND TCM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS ALL SAFETY PROBLEMS ACCORDING TO RECALLS NONE OF IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE FORD SAYS YOUR VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON LIST.

NHTSA ID

11396766

Incident

Feb 12, 2019

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 55 MPH WHEN IT HAD INSTANT TRANSMISSION FAILURE. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WOULDN/T MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION OR GEAR. TRANSMISSION WAS IN PROPER FLUID LEVEL RANGE.

NHTSA ID

11361786

Incident

Sep 29, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN RD N IT FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS PUSHING BREAK WHILE I WAS SMASHING GAS PEDAL . LOST ALL FIRE TO CAR WOULDN'T GO NO WHERE. I WAS ON A COUNTRY RD GOING UPHILL. IT SPOTS N SPUTTER N JERKS REAL HARD GOING UP HILL LIKE MY TRANSMISSION GOING BAD BUT MOTOR SOUNDS GOOD SO I HAVE NO CLUE..

NHTSA ID

11344013

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

Mileage

230,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY RPMS SHOT UP BUT I HAD NO ACCELERATION IT DID THIS WITHOUT WARNING I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND I WAS GOING TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT WHEN I PULLED THE DIPSTICK OUT FLUID SHOT OUT THE DIPSTICK HOLE. I WAS ABLE TO WALK TO A STORE & BUY TRANSMISSION FLUID THAT I ADDED. I WAITED A BIT THEN TRIED DRIVE, REVERSE, LOW GEAR, BUT NOTHING. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK

NHTSA ID

11343396

Incident

Jul 9, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

TORQUE CONVERTOR DEFECTIVE IN SIMILAR FORD FREESTAR MODELS EDDY'S FORD DEALERSHIP SOLD RECALL VEHICLE AS IS AGAINST STATE & FEDERAL LAWS AND LIED TO DISABLED VETERANS ABOUT REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TORQUE CONVERTER AFTER DISCOVERY OF RECALL CAUSED PISTON HOLE ENGINE BLOCK AND TRANSMISSION DAMAGE CUTTING OUT NEAR DANGEROUS BRIDGE INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID

11322910

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

Mileage

116,000 mi

MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE THEN A LOUD BANG COME FROM THE TRANSMISSION, SHE LOST ALL POWER, IF SHE HADN'T RESPONDED TO THE SITUATION AND TURN IMMEDIATELY INTO A CHURCH DRIVEWAY SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED! THE VAN WAS IN MOTION DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON 257TH ST IN THE CITY OF GRESHAM. I WAS JUST NOW RESEARCHING THE VAN AND SAW FORD RECALLED 200,000 OF THIS YEAR'S VAN DEW TO A FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

11299179

Incident

Jan 13, 2020

Mileage

200,566 mi

I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS VAN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES TO YOU FIRST IT WAS THE FUEL FILTER AND NOW IT'S THE TRANSMISSION I KEEP THE MAINTENANCE UP AND THINGS STILL GO WRONG

NHTSA ID

11290411

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

2004 FORD FREESTAR NOW.MILES 59000 PROBLEMS STARTED AROUND 45.000 MILES STARTED IN 2007 WITH BATTERY DEAD IF CAR STAT A MONTH STARTTED IN 2008 RIGHT AND LEFT LOW AND HIGH BEAM. HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR KEEP MELTING/ BURNING UP THE GROUND WIRE TRANSMISSION MAKING CLICKING NOISE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS DARK BROWN DOOR LOCK DONT ALWAYS UNLOCK OR LOCK ON SIDE DOOR LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE WING WINDOWS IN BACK OPEN. BUT DONT CLOSE ON LEFT AND RIGHT PROBLEMS ALL HAPPEN. IF STSTIONARY OR IN MOTION CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY I HAVE. TAKE PICKS LATER .NOT BY THE CAR AT THE MOMENT .

NHTSA ID

11270352

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

45,000 mi

WE WERE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE ROAD AND MY 2004 FORD FREESTAR LOST ALL POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD NOT GO IN ANY GEAR. DRN31 NOTHING JUST REVS UP! WE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM A YEAR AGO AND I FLUSHED THE TRANS AND IT SEEMED TO WORK UNTIL NOW. ALL FLUIDS WERE FINE ON THE VEHICLE AND LINKAGE IS ATTACHED. IT SHOWS NO RECALLS ON THIS VAN AND I DISAGREE AS I CAN SEE ONE. THANK GOODNESS MY KIDS WERE NOT HURT AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE

NHTSA ID

11254740

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. ALSO, THE POWER TRAIN INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HART FORD LINCOLN AT 989-275-8922 (LOCATED AT 117 LAKE ST, ROSCOMMON, MI 48653) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE NHTSA OR THE MANUFACTURER TO RE-OPEN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

11253182

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

Mileage

190,000 mi

1 MINUTES AFTER YOU START DRIVING IT LOSE POWER

NHTSA ID

11207037

Incident

May 9, 2019

Mileage

139 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V006000 (POWER TRAIN) DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT PROVIDED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHILE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE PART WAS RECEIVED THREE MONTHS LATER. ACADEMY FORD SALES (13401 BALTIMORE AVE, LAUREL, MD 20707, (800) 658-7794) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11192027

Incident

Aug 10, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE LEVER WAS HEAVY AND BECAME STUCK BEFORE SWITCHING INTO GEAR. SOMETIMES, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. ALSO, THE AXLES MADE A CRUNCHING AND GRINDING SOUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE MADE A TURN. THE TRANSAXLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CBS AXLES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000. ..*BF CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE SUDDEN POWER COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER BUT NEEDS TO CHECKED. COMMON FAILED TRANSMISSION ERROR.*JB

NHTSA ID

11189792

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

270,000 mi

[XXX] 2004 FORD FREESTAR HAS A TORQUE CONVERTER RECALL WHICH MAY CAUSE THE VEHILE TO STALL AT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. AS I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY SPEEDS THE VAN SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS I WAS IN THE #3 LANE ON THE BAY BRIDGE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I TRIED TO GET TO THE SAFEST LOCATION POSSIBLE. THEN HAD IT TOWED TO MICHAEL STEAD FORD AND THE DIAGNOSIS STATES THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER DOESN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE. WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND FAILURE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER IT LEAD TO ADDITIONAL PARTS TO BE DAMAGED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY WONT COVER THE DAMAGE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11189781

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD FREESTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND DID NOT MOVE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT WATER ENTERED THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 45 DAYS EARLIER BY THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

11187141

Incident

Dec 27, 2018

Mileage

157,000 mi